Moustache Wax: How to Use Wax on your Tash

This entry was posted on March 17, 2018 by The English Shaving Company.

We’ve written a lot of beard-related advice recently, but don’t want to neglect the glorious moustache! When it comes to caring for your tash and ensuring it looks as good as possible, moustache wax is vital. It helps you sculpt, shape, and care for your facial hair.

What is Moustache Wax?

Moustache wax is a sticky substance used to shape your moustache hair, giving a smooth look that lasts throughout the day. It provides control over the hairs, helping you to shape your moustache into a work of art.

If you’re looking to create a more stylish or controlled look, then moustache wax is the way to do it. Even if you have a simple moustache, a little moustache wax can go a long way to keeping it maintained as you go about your day.

The bulk is usually made from beeswax which provides moustache wax with its high-hold properties. It is often mixed with different oils, allowing you to manipulate the wax more easily and they also give it a pleasant fragrance.

Natural Ingredients vs Petrochemical

We would recommend that you always look for moustache waxes that use natural ingredients, such as beeswax, over petrochemical-based waxes. The latter are not only worse for the environment, but are less effective and can often dry out your skin.

Beeswax and other natural waxes and oils often have protective and moisturising properties that shape your moustache and help to keep it healthy.

Moustache wax is better than simply using wax designed for ordinary hair. Your facial hair is very different from the hair on your head and therefore requires a different kind of care. Your facial hair also goes through a lot more - with eating and drinking, ordinary hair wax can rub or wash off throughout the day, wilting your tash or making it look a bit crumpled!

Moustache wax is far more resilient than ordinary wax and keeps your moustache in check for longer. You can get different strengths of wax, such as Antica Barbieria Colla’s extra-firm wax.

How to Use Moustache Wax

When you open a new tin of wax, the substance will normally be very hard. Beeswax, at room temperature, is a naturally firm consistency. Before you can use the wax, you’ll have to gently warm it up.

You can do this by placing it on the heater for a minute or two, or simply putting it in your pocket. If you choose to heat it on a radiator or with a hair dryer, be careful; overheating your wax can melt it into a liquid. If this happens, you’ll have to wait for it to return to a solid state before you can use it. Most waxes are pocket-sized for convenience, so popping it into your pocket is often the best option.

If you really are in a rush, you can scrape off a thin layer of wax with your thumb nail and thoroughly massage it between your hands until the heat and friction make it softer and more pliable, although this can be hard work!

Once you’ve used your wax a few times, you’ll find it naturally becomes softer and easier to manipulate without having to warm it first.

Applying the Wax

Before you begin, ensure your moustache is completely dry. Wax won’t stick to damp or wet hair as effectively, preventing you from achieving the perfect shape. It could also mean that your carefully constructed shape doesn’t last as long.

Scrape the side of your thumb or forefinger nail along the surface of the wax to remove some. You’ll probably want a pea-sized amount, but you can use more or less according to the size and thickness of your moustache. It’s best to start with a little, and then apply more if necessary.

Work the wax between your thumb and forefinger until it becomes soft and sticky. At this point, it’s ready for you to apply.

Rub it into your hairs, starting at the centre and moving from one side to the other. Follow this with a comb, brushing the wax into the hairs and through your moustache to ensure it’s spread evenly. This will create a smooth and managed look. If you’re sticking with simplicity, then leave it here!

If you’re creating more of a statement look, use both a comb and your fingers to shape your moustache into the style you want. You might require more wax to perfect and hold the shape of your tash, especially if it’s particularly extravagant!

Your hair might initially look a little greasy, but the wax will dry and leave your moustache looking shaped and smooth. You shouldn’t be able to see any waxy substance once it’s dried. A poor quality wax might visibly stay in your hair, so we’d recommend you always use a good brand with quality ingredients.

Removing the wax

While substances such as beard oil can be left in, moustache wax needs to be washed out daily. If you don’t, then the wax can build up in your hair. This not only leads to an unattractive residue, but can also be bad for your skin as it clogs your pores and prevents dead, dry hairs and skin from flaking away.

To remove the wax, you’ll need a good beard shampoo. It’s worth investing in shampoo designed for facial hair, rather than using a standard shampoo or soap, as the hairs on your face are very different from those on your head. Normal shampoo can dry out your moustache hair and the skin underneath.

Wet your moustache and work the shampoo into the hairs, ensuring you wash right through to the skin underneath. Rinse out with warm water.

We would also recommend applying a few drops of beard oil after washing your moustache to keep the hair hydrated. It ensures your tash stays soft and looks great!

Do you use moustache wax to shape your facial hair? Let us know in the comments!

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